I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

"Lord Balrog." Shuntaro yawned, "Did you call us here just to tell us these things?"

"Since the task of catching traitorous ninja is given to Shintaro, wouldn't it be enough to just call Shintaro? Why call me and Jitaro?"

"If it's just to remind us to pay attention to that traitorous ninja in Edo in the future, then there is no need to call the two of us here too? It's fine for others to convey this trivial matter."

Shuntaro was just taking a nap.

Taking a leisurely and comfortable nap has always been one of Shuntaro's biggest hobbies in his daily life.

It is also because he likes to take a nap, so Shuntaro hates being woken up suddenly while taking a nap.

The Balrog just issued an emergency call, and Shuntaro was forced to wake up, which already made Shuntaro a little unhappy.

If the Balrog specially called them here to talk about some very important matters, that would be fine.

But judging from the current situation, it seems that the Balrog really just wants to talk about some trivial things that can be relayed by others.

This made Shuntaro already have a rather obvious emotion called "unhappiness" in his tone when he said those words just now.

As soon as Shuntaro finished speaking, the Balrog said in a low voice:

"I specially called you and Jitaro here, of course not just to convey this to you."

The Balrog turned his gaze back to Kyutaro.

"Gekitaro, there are still 7 days left, and the 'Imperial Trial Match' will begin."

"How are you getting ready?"

"There is nothing wrong with it." Ji Taro replied without thinking.

Seeing Kyutaro's resolute expression and firm tone, Balrog nodded slightly.

"Don't relax. I've told you many times how important this 'imperial trial match' is to us now."

"If we can get the first place in the "Imperial Trials" military test, it will definitely change the general's impression of us."

"Maybe it can also improve the old middle-aged man's impression of us."

After exhorting Kyutaro, Balrog turned his attention to Shuntaro again.

After seeing the hot-eyed women's kimono on Shuntaro, Balrog immediately frowned.

"Shuntaro, I called you here, just to ask you a good question."

"What's the matter with this dress on you?"

"This one?" Shuntaro tugged at the skirt of his upper body, "When I was wandering in Edo a few days ago, I found this dress was very beautiful, so I bought it and tried it on, and it turned out that it was quite comfortable to wear. Yes, so I continued to wear it."

Hearing Shuntaro's words, several black lines immediately appeared on Balrog's face.

"You are one of the 'Four Heavenly Kings' in I don't know fire." The Balrog said in a deep voice, "How can you have such a funny dress."

"Sir Balrog, what does it matter?" Shuntaro shrugged, showing a fearless smile, "The ninjas in Shiranui will not be demoralized because I wear this outfit.

"

"...Hmph." After being silent for a while, the Balrog snorted heavily, "Forget it, I'm too lazy to bother with you."

"That's all I have to say, you can all go back."

...

...

After Balrog issued the order to disband, Shuntaro, who had long been looking forward to returning early, stood up first.

After Shuntaro got up and left, Jitaro and Shintaro followed closely behind.

Because Shuntaro lived in a different direction from Jitaro and Shintaro, after leaving the Balrog's house, Shuntaro didn't even say hello, and directly parted ways with Jitaro and Shintaro, He strode on his way back to his house.

Ji Taro and Shintaro seem to have long been used to Shuntaro's indifferent behavior towards them, and ignored Shuntaro who didn't even say hello to them.

Shuntaro and the two of them live in a different direction, but Shintaro and Kyutaro live in the same direction.

So the two naturally walked side by side together.

The relationship between Ji Taro and Shintaro is not particularly good.

The reason is that the personalities of the two are not very compatible.

Shintaro is taciturn and meticulous in doing things.

Because he usually doesn't talk much and just keeps his head down, it's hard to guess what he usually thinks about.

Shintaro, who is meticulous in his work, is naturally the same as Jitaro, who likes wine and women, and can't pee in the same pot.

Although the relationship between the two is not very good, but in order to pass the boring time of walking, Ji Taro took the lead in talking to Shintaro:

"This 'imperial trial match' is really troublesome... I really don't want to participate in such a troublesome thing..."

Shintaro responded positively to Kyutaro's accusation.

"Besides you, there is no other person who is suitable to participate in the 'Imperial Trial'."

"You are the only one among the 'Four Heavenly Kings' who has received a complete education in Sinology."

"The Four Books and Five Classics are better than you, and I can fight without you."

"Better than you can type, the Four Books and Five Classics are not as good as you."

"It's because I don't even have anyone who can replace me, so I find it troublesome." Ji Taro pouted, "Compared to such troublesome things, tasks like assassination are more suitable for me."

"Gekitaro, don't ruin this rare and good task."

Shintaro said in a calm tone.

"Master Yanmo attaches great importance to this 'imperial trial match' - I believe that I don't need to say more, you also know what this means, right?"

"As long as you can complete the task entrusted to you by Lord Balrog, you will be able to please Lord Balrog greatly."

"As long as you make Lord Balrog happy, and let Lord Balrog see your outstanding ability, maybe you can win Lord Balrog's favor for you."

"The possibility of giving you the position of the 18th Balrog in the future may be greatly increased."

"There is Shuntaro here. When will I be succeeded as the 18th Meme Balrog?" Although Ji Taro said so, there is still a strange light in his eyes.

"Gekutaro, haven't you noticed that the relationship between Lord Balrog and Shuntaro is getting worse?"

Shintaro said in a tone that was still calm as if there was no emotion mixed in.

"Since the incident three years ago, Shuntaro has become more and more free and loose, not paying attention to the precepts in my Shiranui."

"You must have discovered it a long time ago, right? Lord Balrog has already expressed his dissatisfaction with Shuntaro many times in the open and in the dark."

"At the moment when Lord Balrog has long been extremely dissatisfied with Shuntaro, it is not impossible for someone who may not be as strong in other abilities, but who is liked by Lord Balrog to take over the position of the 18th Meme Balrog. "

After finishing speaking, Shintaro turned his body and turned into the path next to him.

"Anyway—Gekutaro, work hard on your own. Don't disappoint Lord Balrog's expectations of you."

"Let's break up here first, I'm going to organize people to capture that traitor."

"Yeah." Ji Taro waved his hand at Shintaro in response.

Although Shintaro has gone far, what Shintaro said to him just now is still in Jitaro's ears.

Ji Taro who unconsciously slowed down, the strange light in his eyes was even more dazzling than before...

...

...

Edo, outside Yoshihara, see Huiliu.

"Why do I have to pretend to be a woman again..."

Asai's expression now looks like this: w(??Д??)w.

A look that wanted to go crazy and growl loudly, but held it back.

Ogata, Makimura, and Asai are standing beside the Miho willow outside Yoshihara at this time.

At the end of the avenue connected to the gate of Yoshihara, there is a willow tree called "Jianhui Willow".

Many guests have had fun in Yoshihara, left Yoshihara, and walked to this willow tree, and often looked back at Yoshihara because of the marrow and taste—this is the origin of the name "seeing the willow".

The outfits of the Ogata three people at this time have not changed much compared to last night.

Ogata is wearing the exclusive haori of the Shirobei clubhouse.

Makimura was wearing ordinary clothes.

And Asai... also dressed up as an extremely beautiful girl just like yesterday...

Although it's just getting dark now, it's not the time when Yoshihara really gets lively.

But many people who have finished today's work impatiently carry the money they earned today, or the money they have saved for many days, and go straight to Yoshiwara excitedly.

When passing by the beautiful girl Asai, most of the men and women couldn't help looking back at the beautiful girl.

And the gazes of these people made Asai even more embarrassed.

Looking at Asai who was looking crazy, Ogata really wanted to say something comforting, but he couldn't think of what to say...

The reason why Asai is dressed like a woman is also thanks to Bailin.

"Asai, for a period of time after that, continue to disguise yourself as a man and hide in the Four Seasons House with Makimura, trying to hear some useful information from Kyutaro."

"Of course, I won't ask the two of you to go every day. If you go every day, you may attract the attention of Ji Taro."

"In short, you two will go to the Four Seasons House again tonight."

"As for when I can rest for a while and don't have to go again, it's up to me to decide."

The above are what Lin and Asai said today.

When Lin was talking to Asai, Ogata happened to be there.

Ogata felt that he would never forget Asai's expression at that time...

"Okay, let's go in quickly." After saying this in a helpless tone, Ogata took the lead in supporting the saber at his waist, and strode towards the gate of Yoshihara not far ahead.

After passing through the gate of Yoshiwara, Okyo temporarily parted ways with Makimura and Asai.

Mucun and Asai will "ambush" in the surrounding areas of the Four Seasons House, waiting for the arrival of Ji Taro - after all, it is impossible to sit around in the Four Seasons House and wait for Ji Taro to arrive.

After Ogata passed through the gate of Yoshihara, he turned directly to the right and entered the Shirobei clubhouse.

Ogata's working hours are when it gets dark.

It is true that Ogata came a little earlier today, and the sky is just getting dark now.

Ogata came a little early today, so he decided to find an empty room in the clubhouse to sit and rest for a while.

The two club staff who were standing guard outside the gate of the club seemed to know Ogata. After seeing Ogata, they greeted Ogata loudly with enthusiasm.

After raising his hands to these two people in response, Ogata strode into the hall.

When Guasheng took Ogata to familiarize himself with the layout of Yoshiwara before, he took Ogata to the rooms in the clubhouse that were specially used for the officials of the clubhouse to rest.

Relying on his own memory, Ogata shuttled around the not-so-large club house.

From time to time, he could see people passing by him on the way.

Among the people who passed by Ogata, those who didn't know Ogata ignored him, or just nodded politely.

And those who knew Ogata, without exception, greeted Ogata with enthusiasm and a somewhat scary attitude.

Because the enthusiasm was too much, Ogata felt a little uncomfortable...

Finally arrived before and after the rooms dedicated to the rest of the staff of the club, because the doors of each room were closed tightly, and it was unknown which room was occupied or not, so Ogata walked to a room at random Before the door of the room, he asked softly:

"Excuse me, is there anyone in there?"

As soon as Ogata's words fell, a voice that was quite familiar to Ogata sounded from behind the door of this room:

"Mashima-kun?"

Hearing this voice, Ogata couldn't help raising his eyebrows.

This voice was not too familiar to Ogata.

I hear it almost every day these days.

Just as Ogata was about to say something, the door in front of him was pulled open with a "huh".

The person who opened the door and the owner of the voice just now was Gua Sheng.

Ogata looked down at Guasheng who barely reached the height of his chest.

A thin layer of sweat adhered to Gua Sheng's forehead.

After glancing at the fine sweat on Guasheng's forehead, Ogata asked:

"Miss Guasheng, have you just returned from patrolling in Yoshihara?"

"Yeah." Guasheng nodded, "I just patrolled around Yoshihara a few times, and now I'm taking a short rest here."

After finishing speaking, Guasheng looked Ogata up and down a few times.

"Mashima-kun, what are you doing here? Do you need me for something?"

"No. I just saw that it's still early, so I plan to find a rest room in the clubhouse for a while."

"That's it..." Guasheng put on a helpless smile, "Mashima-kun, if you want to find a room to rest, you don't need to ask if there is anyone inside, just pull the door and come in."

"We don't need too complicated etiquette here."

After explaining their little knowledge to Ogata, Guasheng turned sideways.

"Anyway, you come in first."

"I'm the only one in this room now, and it's relatively clean."

Compared to a room that was too lively and where strangers were present, Ogata definitely wanted to rest in a room that was clean and filled with people he knew.

Ogata entered the room following the empty space created by Guasheng's sideways body.

As Guasheng said, until Ogata came in, she was the only one in this room.

There is a cushion in the middle of the room, and there is a peach-shaped depression on the cushion—this must be the shape that Gua Sheng sat on when he sat on the cushion just now.

After realizing that Ogata was looking at the cushion, Guasheng immediately blushed and walked quickly to the cushion, and then waved his hand to flatten the depression of the cushion.

Ogata deliberately pretended not to notice the cushion too much, and sat cross-legged in a corner of the room casually.

"Is it my illusion..." Ogata said in a helpless tone as soon as he sat down on the tatami, "I always feel that everyone in the club seems to be much warmer to me..."

After all, Xu Convenience told Guasheng how he was treated warmly by many staff members after entering Yoshihara just now.

After listening to Ogata's narration, Guasheng, who had sat cross-legged on the cushion just now, smiled slightly:

"Mashima-kun, you managed to snatch the Huofu thieves who came to steal the credit yesterday by yourself. It has already been spread here in the clubhouse."

"Isn't it normal for everyone to be enthusiastic about you, a great hero?"

"Don't be like this." Ogata couldn't help showing a wry smile, "I can't afford to be a great hero or something."

"If possible, I really hope that everyone can treat me like they used to, without being so enthusiastic...Huh? Miss Guasheng, why are you looking at me like this?"

Guasheng, who was sitting cross-legged on the cushion, was leaning forward in the direction where Ogata was, casting an intriguing gaze on Ogata.

"... Mashima-kun, I always feel that you are very mysterious."

"Mysterious?" Ogata raised his eyebrows, "Why do you say that?"

"The clothes you wear are not bad, and the saber around your waist feels like a high-end product. I feel that you are not a poor person, but you will come to work here in our Shirobei clubhouse."

"With such a powerful skill, he can be turned into an enemy with the elite Huofu thief, and he can defeat the opponent's No. 25 person in one breath, and he hardly has any injuries."

"I also know friends who can directly contact that 'Guiping'."

"I have always heard people say that Izumo is the domain of gods where millions of gods live, and it has been rich in outstanding people since ancient times."

"I didn't believe it at first, but now I believe it."

"There was Ogata Yidao Zhai in the front, and you in the back. They are all incredible swordsmen."

"It made me want to see with my own eyes whether the land of Izumo is really so magical."

As soon as Gua Sheng finished speaking, Xu Fangyi immediately shrugged and said with a smile:

"Miss Guasheng, you put me and Ogata Yidao Zhai side by side, which is really flattering me."

"In terms of swordsmanship and deeds, I can't compare to Ogata Istosai in any of them."

After hearing what Ogata said, Guasheng was silent for a while.

Then straighten your back.

"That's right."

"You should at least refute it..."

Hearing Ogata's helpless speech, Guasheng chuckled a few times and stood up.

"Mashima-kun, I'm going to get some tea, do you want it?"

"Um, fine. Please."

Guasheng left the room quickly.

Only Ogata and the cushion with the "peach"-shaped indentation reappeared in the room.

Ogata, who didn't intend to waste this spare time waiting for Guasheng to come back, took out a book from his pocket.

On the cover of this book is written two large Chinese characters: "Book of Rites".

This is what Ogata just bought this afternoon.

Ogata has the memory of "Mae Ogata".

Although "Mae Ogata" is only a low-level samurai of the Hirose clan, he has also received a complete education in the Terakoya.

Moreover, "Mae Ogata" studied hard in Terakoya Middle School.

The Four Books and Five Classics have been studied in a regular manner and recited throughout.

Before Ogata himself traveled to the Edo period, under the strict requirements of his parents who were paranoid about the so-called Chinese studies, Ogata also studied the Four Books and Five Classics assiduously.

The memory of "Mae Ogata", plus the memory of Ogata himself. The addition of the two memories may not make Ogata a "master of Sinology", but he can still recite the Four Books and Five Classics completely.

But just to be on the safe side, Ogata decided to take the time to review some of the more difficult or easy to memorize parts of the Four Books and Five Classics during the period before the "Imperial Trial Combine".

After all, he promised Hasegawa that he would reciprocate with Hasegawa and help Hasegawa.

If you don't even pass the essay test of the "Imperial Trial" in the end, you'll laugh your ass off...

Just as Ogata was carefully reading the "Book of Rites" with the largest number of words among the Four Books and Five Classics in his hand, Guasheng came back with a large tea tray.

After discovering that Ogata was reading "Book of Rites", Gua Sheng asked curiously:

"Mashima-kun, are you so eager to learn?"

"No." Ogata shook his head, "If I hadn't participated in the 'Imperial Trial', I would definitely not have read these books..."

"Mashima-kun, have you participated in the 'Imperial Trial'?" Gua Sheng's face was full of surprise.

This is not something worth concealing, so Ogata told Guasheng that he had participated in the "Imperial Trial" in every detail.

Of course—of course Ogata would not foolishly tell the real reason why he participated in the "Imperial Trial".

He only said that he thought the "trial match before the imperial court" was very interesting, so he planned to join in the fun.

After learning that Ogata had signed up to participate in the "Imperial Trial", Gua grew up heaving a sigh of relief, and then sighed softly:

"That's great... I also want to participate in the 'Imperial Trial'..."

After finishing speaking, Gua Sheng raised his hand to caress his chest, which was not much bulging than a man's.

Women are not allowed to participate in the "Yuqian trial marriage" - this rule alone dooms Guasheng to miss the "Imperial trial marriage".

"Miss Guasheng, are you also interested in the 'Imperial Trial Marriage'?" Ogata asked.

"It's not..." Gua Sheng smiled wryly and shook his head, "The reason why I want to participate in the 'Imperial Trial' is because of some...other reasons."

After finishing speaking, Gua Sheng picked up the teacup he had just brought, and drank the tea in the cup in one go.

"Forget it, it's useless to talk about it now. If you can't participate in the 'Imperial Trial', don't participate!"

"Come on, Mashima-kun, here's your tea, it's a little hot, drink it slowly."

...

...

at the same time--

Edo, Yoshihara, Miumeya, Furin Taifu's room——

"I said..." Taifu Fuling said to Shuntaro who was lying on the tatami in her room in front of him, with a look of hatred for iron and steel, "Have you been too idle recently? Why do you go to me every day?" Running here?"

Shuntaro, who was still wearing the women's kimono, lay carelessly on his side on the tatami floor of the room, with his left hand propped up to support his head.

"Did I tell you before? I'm really free these days."

After saying that, Shuntaro let out a big yawn.

"You are the only heart-to-heart friend in my entire Edo, and I have no other place to go except to find you."

"Don't say that this feeling is sad..."

Kneeling and sitting in front of Shuntaro angrily, Taifu Fuling seemed to have remembered something, showed a strange smile, and then said to Shuntaro:

"Didn't you tell me last night that you met the Mashima Goro-kun at the bank of the Rashomon River? You can go to him. That man is working at the Shirobei clubhouse now, so it should be pretty easy to find him Easy."

Last night when the night was already deep, Shuntaro broke into her room suddenly as usual.

After breaking into her room, Shuntaro told her excitedly: He was bored tonight, and went to the bank of the Rashomon River, which he hadn't been to for a long time, and then he ran into and got to know the beautiful skillful girl before him. The young samurai named "Mashima Goro" who uses Hozoin's style of spear.

Shuntaro showed a faint smile after hearing Taifu Fuling's words.

"Are you talking about Mashima Goro-kun... He and I are just acquainted, not friends. But your proposal is quite good. If I feel like that in the future, I will talk to him more."

After saying that, Shuntaro sat up from the tatami, then stretched vigorously.

"Ugh……"

Then let out a soft sigh.

"Shiranui is getting worse and worse."

Shuntaro's inexplicable outburst caused a bit of surprise on Furin Taifu's face.

"Did something happen?"

"This afternoon, the Balrog suddenly summoned our 'Four Heavenly Kings'..."

Shuntaro explained what happened this afternoon to Taifu Fuling in a concise manner.

After explaining the ins and outs, Shuntaro said in a half-joking tone:

"During this period of time, there are really more and more rebellious forbearance."

"Although there were many rebellions in the past, there have been a lot of rebellions in recent years."

"In recent years, almost every year, a few ninjas have defected to Shiranui."

"A few months ago, a female ninja named Atachi rebelled against Shiranui, and now there is a new rebellious ninja."

"The continuous increase in the number of rebellious ninjas only shows one thing - everyone doesn't want to be a ninja in Shiranui anymore."

After quietly listening to Shuntaro's words, Taifu Fuling let out a long breath, then smiled and said:

"Isn't this what it should be?"

"You don't know that there are so many broken rules in Huo."

"Once you make a big mistake, you may be reduced to a 'dirty' no different from a slave."

"In such a cruel environment, isn't it normal to force people away?"

"And... let alone the cruelty in your Shiranui."

"I think even if the rules in Shiranui are looser, there must still be a lot of people who want to defect."

"after all……"

Speaking of this, Taifu Fengling paused.

Then he said word for word:

"In this day and age, there is no need for ninjas."

Fuling Taifu's words not only did not make Shuntaro unhappy, but also made Shuntaro laugh.

"...You're right." Shuntaro laughed a few times, and the expression on his face changed into an unpredictable and weird expression, "Now it's not the chaotic times of the Warring States Period two hundred years ago."

"The world is peaceful, except for the occasional hoe-bearer who rises up to make trouble, there is no more war."

"Even the samurai put their swords and guns into the warehouse, and their horses are released on Nanshan. How can we ninjas have anything to do?"

Shuntaro leaned back and lay on his back on the tatami.

"...I have already clearly felt that the hearts of the people in Shiranui are a little unstable."

Shuntaro who was lying on the tatami said softly.

"Even if the village of Fumo is gone long ago, and there are no competitors in the whole world, the number of missions we can receive that allow us to show our talents is still less and less every year."

"This kind of worry that 'the world seems to have no need for ninjas' has already made many ninjas in our Shiranui panic."

"The Balrog must have noticed this a long time ago."

"I don't know how the Balrog will use his tricks to save this floating heart?"

"Some want to wait and see."

After saying that, a smirk appeared on Shuntaro's face.

...

...

On the second day after the cooperation with Hasegawa Heizo was reached, Mucun went to the headquarters of Huofu Thief Gai according to the regulations, and received from Hasegawa Heizo the map of Edo Castle that marked the approximate location of the Shiranui-sato base .

Two large circles are drawn in the mountains to the north and east of Edo Castle—according to Hasegawa, Shiranui's base is somewhere in the mountains to the north or east of Edo Castle.

As for the specific place, we can only check it slowly.

Although they couldn't find out where Shiranui's base was in one go, knowing the approximate location saved Ogata and the others a lot of effort.

After learning about the approximate location of the Shiranui base from Hasegawa, Lin immediately conveyed this information to "Dongchengya" who helped them find the location of the Shiranui base.

Let Tojo Daigo, the "supreme authority in the world of Yakuza in East Japan", stop wasting time and manpower on carpet searches, and dispatch the manpower to the two places Hasegawa said.

From Ogata's registration to the start of the "Imperial Trial", there are still 7 days left.

Mucun and Asai didn't go to the Four Seasons House every night.

In order to avoid going to the Four Seasons House too frequently and attracting the attention of Ji Taro, under Lin's arrangement, Makimura and Asai have only been to the Four Seasons House three times in the past 7 days.

Among these 3 times, there was 1 empty-handed time-the time when he was empty-handed, Ji Taro did not go to the Four Seasons House to drink, but directly entered the Younv House to start the cycle.

It seems that Asai got used to wearing women's clothes many times.

Now Asai can put on women's clothing and make up by herself with a very calm attitude.

Many times of makeup, let Asai also unknowingly learned the method of female makeup.

Hasegawa promised to give Ogata and others the benefits. In addition to telling the approximate location of Shiranui's base, he also helped Ogata and others to pay attention to Shiranui's movements.

And Xu Bian became an informant.

Ogata and the others didn't intend to let Hasegawa know where the hotel they were hiding in was.

After all, the fewer people who know where they are hiding, the better.

In addition, Lin and Mamiya are also wanted criminals that Hasegawa has been chasing.

If Hasegawa finds out that Lin and Mamiya are also staying with Ogata and Mucun, no one knows what will happen.

Since Hasegawa could not send someone to directly send the information about Shiranui to their hidden hotel, Ogata and the others came up with another way: Ogata, who happened to be working as a "spy" at Yoshihara's place, acted as an informant.

If Hasegawa found out what was going on in Shiranui, he would send someone credible to contact Ogata who was "working" in Yoshihara.

In this way, not only can Hasegawa not know the hiding place of Ogata and others, but also facilitate Hasegawa to convey the information to Ogata in time.

So - Ogata has another reason for coming to Yoshiwara to "work" every night.

During these 7 days, Ogata lived a fairly regular life.

During the day, I took time to review the Four Books and Five Classics, and at night I went to "work" in Yoshihara.

Time just passed by little by little.

Finally, 7 days passed.

"Trial match before the imperial court" - it has begun!

*****

*****

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